Benin council halts protest against arrest of palace secretary, chiefs

Stop casting aspersions on Benin oba, chiefs, youths warn
Benin Traditional Council (BTC), yesterday, called on youths, particularly, the Coalition of Social Cultural Organisations, to halt a protest scheduled for today against the arrest and detention of Council Secretary, Frank Irabor, and some chiefs in kingdom.

A statement issued by Iguobaro Osaigbovo, Chief Press Secretary to the Benin monarch in Benin City, appealed for calm, stressing that the palace of the oba would not want such gathering at this time.

The statement reads in part: “The attention of the Benin Traditional Council has been drawn to a planned solidarity gathering by the Coalition of Social Cultural Organisations over the arrest and detention of the BTC Secretary, Frank Irabor, and some chiefs in Benin Kingdom.

“While the palace appreciates their concern, let it be known that the palace of the Oba of Benin does not want such gathering at this time and consequently directs that the organisers of the gathering halt the exercise immediately.

“The issue in question that led to their arrest is being resolved. In this regard, nobody or group of persons should gather in the oba of Benin palace or anywhere in Benin Kingdom on Monday September 5, 2022. This announcement is important for all those concerned to comply please.”

A Benin High Court had, on Thursday, ordered the remand of Frank Irabor, Secretary to Benin Traditional Council and six others in prison custody for allegedly engaging in illegal demolition of buildings at Ulegun village in Ikpoba-Okha Council of Edo.

MEANWHILE, reacting to the palace statement, the Coalition of Benin Socio-Cultural Organisations, yesterday, called on its planned protest but warned that on no account should any individual or agent cast aspersions on the Oba of Benin.

The warning was issued in Benin City, in a statement jointly signed by the Coalition’s Coordinator General, Osazee Edobor, and Secretary General, Iyamu Osaro Culture.

“Having carefully perused the content of the press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to our revered palace, which we considered as germane in view of our planned protest over the sacrilegious arrest of our most respected secretary of BTC) and some palace chiefs, we sincerely wish to abide by the directives of our revered palace and hereby suspend our planned protest, which was slated for tomorrow,”the statement read.